Chris Ingram gave the new Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 its first victory in the UK when he won the 2024 Nicky Grist Stages in the Castrol MEM Rally Team car, at last weekend’s Nicky Grist Stages in Builth Wells.

Co-driven by Alex Kihurani, the 2019 FIA European rally champion finished just 14.7 seconds ahead of Keith Cronin/Shane Buckley (Ford Fiesta Rally2), while Meirion Evans/Jonathan Jackson (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2) completed the podium.

Builth Wells Mayor Gwyn Davies flagged the cars away from the start outside Strand Hall, as 118 crews headed out for the morning loop of four stages.
Ingram held a slender lead as the cars returned for midday service on the Builth Wells RFC pitch and he extended that advantage when the Llyn Login. Monument, Halfway and Bowlsey stages were repeated in the afternoon.

Elliot Payne/Patrick Walsh won the BTRDA section in their Fiesta Rally2 (Pic Paul Davies).

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There were tremendous battles right through the field, with Elliot Payne/Tom Woodburn (Amigos Ford Fiesta Rally2) claiming victory in the Protyre BTRDA Series section, Russ Thompson/Stephen Link (Dunnow Plant Mitsubishi Evo 9) taking home maximum points in the Motorsport UK Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship and Mark Thomas/Philip Mackay coming out on top in the Defender Rally Series UK Championship.

Shane Lynch from Boyzone did the event in a Bowler.

The rally attracted several thousand visitors to Builth Wells and the surrounding Powys and Carmarthenshire region and the event is indebted to the wonderful support received from Powys County Council, Carmarthenshire County Council, Builth Wells Town Council, Builth Wells RFC, the businesses and residents of Builth Wells, Dyfed Powys Police and landowners, Natural Resources Wales and Defence Infrastructure Organisation Wales in making the event such a huge success.

Russ Thompson/Stephen Link took maximum Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship points in their Mitsubishi Evolution 9 (Pic Paul Mitchell).

“The Quinton Motor Club team, under the direction of Clerk of the Course Neil Cross, have pulled off another brilliant rally with everything running beautifully,” said Nicky Grist.

“All the crews competing said how much they loved the event, and we are so lucky to be able to use such classic Welsh stages which everyone enjoys driving on.

Winner Chris Ingram flying over the Llyn Login jump (pic: Paul Davies).

"The Nicky Grist Stages seems to be appearing in a lot of people’s calendar year-on-year as a must do rally and everyone who puts a lot of hard work in behind the scenes to create such a good event is very grateful for that.